10 Reasons to Take a Cruise

Long gone are the days when cruises were just for old people and families seeking time away together. Nowadays, with over 20 million people taking cruises annually, the cruise industry has become a trend and attraction for the younger population as well. And who can blame them? Cruises appeal to the masses because there is something for everyone. Whether you’re a pool bum or a casino junkie or a concertgoer, you will be able to find something right up your alley on a cruise. Having gone on two cruises in the last two months, I’ve had plenty of time to analyze exactly what it is I love so much about cruising. If you’ve never been on a cruise before but are curious to know more, you’ll want to check out my top 10 reasons to take a cruise.

1. You get to unplug.

Since there is no cellular service at sea and the wifi on board is usually slow and pricey, you have the luxury of completely unplugging for the duration of your cruise. In an age when everyone is seemingly on their phones all the time, being forced to go off the grid for a few days may be the most liberating feeling you’ll experience. It’s just you, your friends/family, and the sounds of the waves.

2. The food goes on for miles.

I’m serious. There is a never-ending supply of free food. Looking for a pizza buffet? Why not also check out the Italian buffet, build-your-own-burger buffet, and dessert buffet? Each ship has its own unique set of food options, but the common theme across all cruise ships is that the food is flowing 24/7. As if all that weren’t enough, you can also order room service any time you want. Trust me, there is no shortage of food!

Views from the restaurant onboard

3. All day free gym access to compensate for the unlimited food.

After indulging in all that delicious food, one must have access to a gym to be able to work it off, right? Thank goodness cruise ships come with free access to their gyms. Not only do all cruise ships come well equipped with gyms, but most of the time, these gyms have phenomenal views overlooking the water. Talk about a nice, peaceful and relaxing workout.

4. Activities are in abundance.

I often hear people talk about how they don’t see how there would be anything fun to do on a cruise ship, and that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Not only are there planned activities and shows going on literally all the time, but there are also have fun games like mini golf and corn hole on some cruises, and fun activities like water slides and rock climbing walls. There’s never a scarcity of shows to watch, like comedy shows, dance performances, and musical concerts – all for free.

Reading about all the activities onboard – professional cruiser alert!

5. You can bring as much stuff as you want.

Seriously. Cruise ships don’t weigh your bags before you get on or limit you to only one suitcase. You have the freedom to pack as many shoes and outfits as you want for your cruise vacation. Even though we always pack light no matter what, not having to worry about whether your suitcase is overweight does alleviate quite a bit of the stress that comes with packing for a new type of vacation.

6. No matter where you are, every view is worth a million bucks.

Where else in the world can you vacation where no matter where you stand on the ship deck, your view goes on for miles? Staying at a resort with this type of view would cost you an arm and a leg. On a cruise ship? It’s part of the package deal.

7. It’s the closest you may ever come to Utopia.

With over 20 million people every year taking a cruise, you can expect your ship to be full of thousands of people from all over the world. This diverse mix of people that you will inevitably meet gives you the opportunity to learn and hear about different perspectives from various parts of the world. It’s also a learning experience in itself being in close quarters with such a large scale of people.

8. Welcome to the world of duty-free purchases.

Taxes cease to exist in the middle of the ocean – could you imagine trying to figure out which country’s territory each purchase was made in? This means that you can score some sweet, tax-free deals on an assortment of items that you can find in the stores on your ship. We’ve found that certain ships prioritize shopping more than others, so keep that in mind when choosing which company to cruise with!

There will also be surprises, such as this one, even if you don’t choose to make any purchases!

9. Cruises are relatively inexpensive and great for budget-conscious travelers.

One of the great things about cruises is that you can tailor them to fit your exact preferences. Balling on a budget? Choose an off-season date. Only free during the holidays? Choose a shorter cruise duration. You can alter all of the dates, lengths, and ports of departure to best fit your needs or preferences. How many other vacations can you do that with?

10. Friendships are easier to make on cruises.

When you go on a cruise, you will be living in close quarters with the same people for an extended period of time. This makes it the perfect place to make new friends! You will find that there are tons of activities offered by the boat, where you can meet people with the same interests as you. We have bonded with people on cruises over topics ranging from the University of Michigan, to orthotics, to our inability to control our food consumption. Spend a little of your vacation time getting to know people from different parts of the world!

Going on a cruise is something we highly recommend that everyone should do at least once in their life. A cruise is like no other vacation you’ve ever taken, and we hope the reasons above have made you think the same. If you have the opportunity to go on a cruise, take it! Happy travels!

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Hi, I’m Diana, the big sister in the sister duo. I left my job as an attorney in March 2017 to pursue the work-from-anywhere/travel-everywhere life aka The Dream. I blog about off the beaten trail travel destinations, adventure travel, immersing in local cultures, and publish plenty of travel guides for all you who are too lazy to plan your own trips. I’ve traveled to 53 countries to date, and some of my recent adventures include hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, visiting a child I’ve sponsored for over 10 years in Rwanda, and exploring the Middle East.

9 Replies to “10 Reasons to Take a Cruise”

I’ve only been on one cruise before, but I’m anxious to experience another. I went on a Disney cruise with my friend and her 2 kids and loved every minute of it. I was amazed at how smoothly things ran, even though we were a floating city haha. My favorite days were when we were out to sea. Like you said, every viewpoint I had was like a million bucks!

I love cruises for pretty much the same reasons you’ve mentioned here! I’ve taken only one actually and I plan to continue the trend. The abundance of activities, the gorgeous views, no matter where you are and what time of day it is, the atmosphere, people being on a holiday and happy mood, mixing around, singing together. It’s all so great!

I must confess that as someone who prefers to spend time with the locals wherever I visit, I’ve always been somewhat prejudiced against cruise holidays. Your post makes me wanna reevaluate. Perhaps there is indeed a good reason large numbers of logical, good people go on cruises for their vacations.

And #11 Cruises are fantastic for island hopping! Of course, the all day food, gym, and tons of onboard activities are great, but my favorite aspect of a cruise is exploring a new island or port every day or so. Places like the Caribbean you can visit a new island everyday without having to pack & unpack luggage.

Never been on a cruise before but i have a friend who works on one and envy her stories and pictures. This is something everyone should experience at least once then decide weather its for them or not! I think it has so many perks like the ones you mentioned, loads of food and activities and not having to pack and unpack your bags.. how convenient.

Sounds like some excellent reasons to me–especially the food! Lol. A make your own burger bar sounds great. 😀 We’ve never been on a cruise, but have considered them–especially repositioning cruises. Seems like a great way to enjoy a different part of travel, and I agree–it’s the perfect opportunity to unplug.

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Hi! We're Diana & Hope, two sisters from Chicago/Toronto showing you how to travel beyond life's boundaries. As a lawyer turned online entrepreneur and a university student, we're no strangers to life's obligations. But by making the most of our vacation days and budgeting smartly, we've traveled to over 60 countries and are visiting many more this year. Follow along, and we'll show you how you can do the same.